NSG 4067: ADDRESSING DIVERSITY OF OLDER ADULTS
1. A nurse manager justifies the budget for education regarding cultural competency for the staff.
Which of the following justifications will best support the need for this education?
A) Life expectancies among minorities are expected to increase while those among non-
Hispanic whites are expected to decrease.
B) Government and health care organizations support the need for culturally competent care.
C) The proportion of health care consumers who are minorities continues to increase.
D) Nurses have a moral obligation to achieve cultural competency with all cultural groups.
Ans: C
Feedback:
The proportion of health care consumers who are minorities is increasing and is predicted to
continue increasing. Life expectancies of all groups, not only minorities, are predicted to
increase. Government and health groups have called for culturally appropriate care, but this
argument gives less support to administration than the power of money. Nurses have an
obligation to achieve cultural competency with the groups they work with, but not with all
cultural groups.
2. A nurse is beginning a new job in an area with a large African American population. Which of
the following statements will assist the nurse to understand this ethnic/race culture to better plan
nursing care? (Select all that apply.)
A) African Americans as a group have a wide range of socioeconomic conditions.
B) Female-headed households are common among African Americans.
C) Lifestyle and risk factors account for the health disparities with older African Americans.
D) Older African Americans are more likely than other older Americans to live alone.
E) Older African Americans are more likely to be caring for their grandchildren.
Ans: A, B, E
Feedback:
Female-headed homes are a common family structure among African Americans. The
differences in health outcomes between African Americans and other groups are attributed
mostly to disparities in health care provision. Older African Americans are more likely to live
with family. Half of those older African Americans who live with their grandchildren are the
primary care provider to those children.
3. A nurse has observed an increasing number of older Asian Americans in the hospital. Which
of the following statements regarding Asian cultures will best assist the nurse to plan nursing
care?
, A) Asian Americans as a group have lower mortality rates.
B) Health is often viewed as a state of physical and spiritual harmony.
C) Older Asian Americans are more likely than other Americans to live alone.
D) Care of elders is commonly provided in institutional environments such as nursing
homes.
Ans: B
Feedback:
While it is true that Asian Americans as a group have lower mortality rates at all ages, the
statement that best assists the nurse to plan care of the Asian client is that a common view of
health from the Asian perspective is that of harmony in the spiritual and physical contexts. Asian
Americans are less likely to live alone. It is more common for older Asian Americans to live
with family than in nursing homes.
4. A nurse's colleague states, "Older people who live in the country are a lot healthier than city
folk." Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) "The differences aren't large, but rural adults do have better health outcomes than do city
dwellers."
B) "But chronic conditions are more common among rural adults."
C) "Overall, yes. Higher levels of family support translate into longer average life spans for
rural adults."
D) "Unfortunately, no. And this is mostly attributable to the problem of homelessness."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Chronic conditions are overrepresented among rural adults. Overall, rural adults have worse
health outcomes than do urban dwellers. While family support levels are generally high, this
does not mean that rural adults live longer lives on average. Lack of access and other factors,
rather than homelessness, are cited as reasons for the differences in health outcomes between
rural and urban adults.
5. A nurse speaks at a staff development in-service. Which of the following statements by a
nurse participant shows the need for education?
A) "I know that the consequences of racism are still present and they're linked to health
disparities."
B) "I'm sure the percentage of client-care hours that we spend working with minority clients
is bound to increase."
C) "There's a huge amount of diversity within the group that's labeled 'Asians and Pacific
Islanders.'"
1. A nurse manager justifies the budget for education regarding cultural competency for the staff.
Which of the following justifications will best support the need for this education?
A) Life expectancies among minorities are expected to increase while those among non-
Hispanic whites are expected to decrease.
B) Government and health care organizations support the need for culturally competent care.
C) The proportion of health care consumers who are minorities continues to increase.
D) Nurses have a moral obligation to achieve cultural competency with all cultural groups.
Ans: C
Feedback:
The proportion of health care consumers who are minorities is increasing and is predicted to
continue increasing. Life expectancies of all groups, not only minorities, are predicted to
increase. Government and health groups have called for culturally appropriate care, but this
argument gives less support to administration than the power of money. Nurses have an
obligation to achieve cultural competency with the groups they work with, but not with all
cultural groups.
2. A nurse is beginning a new job in an area with a large African American population. Which of
the following statements will assist the nurse to understand this ethnic/race culture to better plan
nursing care? (Select all that apply.)
A) African Americans as a group have a wide range of socioeconomic conditions.
B) Female-headed households are common among African Americans.
C) Lifestyle and risk factors account for the health disparities with older African Americans.
D) Older African Americans are more likely than other older Americans to live alone.
E) Older African Americans are more likely to be caring for their grandchildren.
Ans: A, B, E
Feedback:
Female-headed homes are a common family structure among African Americans. The
differences in health outcomes between African Americans and other groups are attributed
mostly to disparities in health care provision. Older African Americans are more likely to live
with family. Half of those older African Americans who live with their grandchildren are the
primary care provider to those children.
3. A nurse has observed an increasing number of older Asian Americans in the hospital. Which
of the following statements regarding Asian cultures will best assist the nurse to plan nursing
care?
, A) Asian Americans as a group have lower mortality rates.
B) Health is often viewed as a state of physical and spiritual harmony.
C) Older Asian Americans are more likely than other Americans to live alone.
D) Care of elders is commonly provided in institutional environments such as nursing
homes.
Ans: B
Feedback:
While it is true that Asian Americans as a group have lower mortality rates at all ages, the
statement that best assists the nurse to plan care of the Asian client is that a common view of
health from the Asian perspective is that of harmony in the spiritual and physical contexts. Asian
Americans are less likely to live alone. It is more common for older Asian Americans to live
with family than in nursing homes.
4. A nurse's colleague states, "Older people who live in the country are a lot healthier than city
folk." Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) "The differences aren't large, but rural adults do have better health outcomes than do city
dwellers."
B) "But chronic conditions are more common among rural adults."
C) "Overall, yes. Higher levels of family support translate into longer average life spans for
rural adults."
D) "Unfortunately, no. And this is mostly attributable to the problem of homelessness."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Chronic conditions are overrepresented among rural adults. Overall, rural adults have worse
health outcomes than do urban dwellers. While family support levels are generally high, this
does not mean that rural adults live longer lives on average. Lack of access and other factors,
rather than homelessness, are cited as reasons for the differences in health outcomes between
rural and urban adults.
5. A nurse speaks at a staff development in-service. Which of the following statements by a
nurse participant shows the need for education?
A) "I know that the consequences of racism are still present and they're linked to health
disparities."
B) "I'm sure the percentage of client-care hours that we spend working with minority clients
is bound to increase."
C) "There's a huge amount of diversity within the group that's labeled 'Asians and Pacific
Islanders.'"
